Raise your hand if you’ve been there. Yep. Me, too. And you might actually be writing songs that are, in fact, just as good as some of the ones on the radio.
Unless you’re already one of the cool kids on Music Row with a bunch of hits and a strong network, being “just as good” equals “just as good as invisible.” It’s not enough to get you noticed or to get your song on the radio.
After all, the pro has paid his (or her) dues, written a lot of really good songs, has industry contacts and might be writing with the artist or producer. If anyone’s going to get their mediocre song recorded, it’s them, not you. It might not seem fair, but a songwriter in that position has earned it.
Not only do your songs have to cut through all the clutter of “bad” songs, they have to leapfrog all the “good” songs and be so good they land in the stack of “great” songs.
Sure, vanilla songs will get cut, but yours probably won’t. As an outside songwriter (one without strong industry connections), you’re up against songwriters who DO have those connections. Basically, your song has to be so good or so right for the artist that they pick yours INSTEAD of their buddy’s (or even their own song).
So… how do you actually do that?
There are a few ways to make your songs stand out: great melody, great production, great idea… I’m a lyricist, so I’ve always found my advantage in finding and developing ideas. Being known for consistently brining in strong ideas – and knowing what to do with them – has helped me attract great cowriters and land some great cuts.
A great idea is one of the best ways to get other songwriters to not only notice you, but to tell their friends about you. If you can make another songwriter say, “I wish I’d thought of that!” they’ll remember you.
I’m hosting two live, online workshops in March, and I’d love for you to join me. On March 22, I’m hosting “Finding Great Song Ideas.” Together, we’ll explore strategies and exercises I use to come up with my best song ideas. This isn’t about just waiting for lighting to strike. This is about how to stand in the rain with a big lightning rod. CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO FIND GREAT SONG IDEAS.
On March 29, I’m hosting “Focusing Your Great Song Ideas,” which dives into how to get the most out of your great ideas. This isn’t about going with the first angle that hits you. We’ll discuss exercises and tactics to make sure you’re writing your best ideas in the best ways possible. CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SONG IDEAS.
Both workshops are online, so you can join us from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. The two workshops build on each other, but they also stand alone. You don’t have to attend both to get a lot of value out of either one. However, there’s a discount if you do join both. Check them out at the links above or go to… www.gumroad.com/manvsrow.
God Bless and Enjoy the Journey,
Brent
Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.
Cut ’em yourself and find your own audience. Production, distribution, and publicity are now free, requiring only your time, study, and attention.
True. But even then, they “need to be better” to cut through the clutter of all those other artists out there, etc. But, in general, I love when people don’t wait to be “picked!”
I agree….Better songs. If you want your friends to be amazed write good songs. If you want the industry to be amazed and your mother doesn’t own the record label and your brother or best friend is not the artist, the song has to be undeniable.
